Statehood 1776

Rhode Island

Rhode Island was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams on former Narragansett land after his exile from the Massachusetts Bay Colony, establishing a settlement he called Providence Plantations. The colony became a haven for religious dissenters and was known for its commitment to religious freedom and self-governance. It received a Royal Charter in 1663 from King Charles II guaranteeing its religious liberties, and remained a self-governing English colony until 1776, when it declared independence from Great Britain during the American Revolution.

Statehood
1776
Admitted as
State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Historic sites
821
Military engagements
93

Pre-contact era

Rhode Island was home to the Narragansett tribe prior to European colonization. The land that would become the colony was founded on former Narragansett territory. The source text does not provide further detail on pre-contact indigenous lifeways beyond identifying the Narragansett as the inhabiting people.

Colonial history

The colony received a Patent in 1643–1644 from the English Parliament, and a more comprehensive Royal Charter in 1663 from King Charles II, which established its government and guaranteed its religious liberties. It was known for religious freedom and self-governance throughout the colonial period.

Unlimited access

Everything a full the United States report reveals

Pick any location and Aubrey pulls together 18 strands of its history, each drawn from the record:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your first month for $5.99
Or see a real report first

Explore Rhode Island records

821
National Register historic sites
National Register listings ›
93
Military engagements
Military history records ›
1
Civil War regiments
Union, Confederate, USCT ›
8
Indigenous groups
Heritage records ›
2
Notable figures
Born in Rhode Island ›
45
Colonial-era events
1492 to early statehood ›
Rhode Island counties
Census population history ›
Sources

State history content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Historic sites data: National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

About Rhode Island

When did Rhode Island become a state?
Rhode Island was admitted to the Union in 1776 as the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
What European powers colonized Rhode Island?
The territory that became Rhode Island passed through several colonial periods. The colony received a Patent in 1643–1644 from the English Parliament, and a more comprehensive Royal Charter in 1663 from King Charles II, which established its government and guaranteed its religious liberties. It was known for religious freedom and self-governance throughout the colonial period.
Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your locationView a free sample report